Therapeutic pack

ABSTRACT

A therapeutic pack provides effective therapeuting heating or cooling to an area of a body. The therapeutic pack comprises a bag and a plurality of therapeutic modules within the bag. The bag is of a material that conforms to the surface of the body. The therapeutic modules are capable of freely moving within the bag relative to one another. The therapeutic modules may include a material that repeatedly provides a prolonged cooling or heating, such as a phase change material.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application is a continuation-in-part application ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/193,778, filed on Jul. 12, 2002.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to therapeutic packs, for example,therapeutic packs, used for cooling or heating an area to be subjectedto a therapeutic treatment, such as an injured area of a human body.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0003] Conventional therapeutic packs may be used to provide atherapeutic treatment to an area of a living body to be subject to acold or heat treatment. For example, therapeutic packs may be used totreat sports related injuries, by providing a cooling or heatingtemperature to the injured area.

[0004] It is believed that U.S. Pat. No. 4,044,773, which is expresslyincorporated herein by reference, refers to a cold therapeutic package,in which water is sealed within an interior of a thin polyurethanebladder. The water is then frozen, resulting in the formation of a thinlayer of ice within the bladder. After being exposed to a deformingforce, such as a rolling or striking force, the layer of ice is dividedinto a plurality of small ice particles. These small ice particles maymove at least substantially freely relative to one another when the coldtherapeutic package is applied to an area to be subjected to a coldtreatment, thereby promoting easier application of the cold package tothe area. However, the thick materials of conventional cold pack bags donot conform readily to the complex, reentrant curves of the human body,because the-bags must prevent leakage of water or other cooling medium.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to improve conventionaltherapeutic packs by providing a pack design that promotes the coolingor heating effects of the therapeutic pack and better conforms to anarea to be subjected to a therapeutic treatment.

[0006] It is another object of the present invention to provide atherapeutic pack, which is better suited to provide a cooling or heatingtemperature to an area to be subjected to a therapeutic treatment.

[0007] It is another object of the present invention to provide atherapeutic pack, which does not require a substantial initial deformingforce for subdividing a cooling medium, such as ice, into a plurality ofsmaller particles.

[0008] To achieve these objects, an exemplary therapeutic pack accordingto the present invention includes a container, also referred to hereinas a bag, having an interior space and a plurality of therapeuticmodules situated in the interior space of the container, in which thetherapeutic modules move freely, or at least substantially freely,relative to one another without the need for a substantial initialdeforming force.

[0009] In this manner, it is believed that the various exemplarytherapeutic packs of the present invention may better treat an injury ofa living body, for example, a sports related injury of a human body. Itis also believed that the therapeutic packs of the present inventionprovide an advantageous solution for treating injuries in large scaletreatment centers, such as hospitals.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a cut-away view showing a first exemplary therapeuticpack according to the present invention.

[0011]FIG. 2 is a cut-away view showing further detail of thetemperature modules shown in FIG. 1.

[0012]FIG. 3 is a diagram showing application of an exemplarytherapeutic pack according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] Referring now to FIG. 1, there is seen a cut-away view of a firstexemplary therapeutic pack 100 according to the present invention. Asshown in FIG. 1, the therapeutic pack 100 includes a bag 110 having aninterior space 115 and a plurality of therapeutic modules 120 situatedwithin the interior space 115 of the bag 110. For example, the bag 110may include more than 1000 spherical therapeutic modules 120. In onespecific embodiment, each spherical therapeutic module has a diameter ofbetween about {fraction (11/32)} inches and {fraction (13/32)} inchesand each weighing, for example, between about 0.4 grams and 0.6 grams. Avolume less than one cubic inch, more preferably less than 0.4 cubicinches is preferred for each module, allowing many modules to conformdirectly to the body surface. The bag 110 may weigh, for example, about454 grams when filled with the therapeutic modules 120, depending on thesize of the bag and number and volume of therapeutic modules within.

[0014] The bag 110 may be made of a strong, durable material and shouldhave a suitable thickness, such that the bag 110 conforms to the area tobe subjected to a therapeutic treatment. For example, the material ofthe bag 110 may have a thickness of less than four thousandths of aninch, for exampe, approximately three and one half thousandths of aninch (i.e., 3½ mil). For example, a highly flexible plastic, a highdensity plastic film, such as a high density polyethylene, apolyurethane, a fabric such as a nylon taffeta, polyester taffeta,polyester/nylon taffeta and other materials may be used to form bag 110.

[0015] It is believed that the use of nylon taffeta in bag 110 isadvantageous, since taffeta is less likely to irritate and/or burn thearea to be subjected to a therapeutic treatment. It is also believedthat taffeta exhibits good conductive properties for conducting thecooling or heating temperature to the area to be subjected to atherapeutic treatment, without causing an ice burn, for example.

[0016] Additionally, the bag 110 may include an antimicrobial and/orantifungal agent to prevent infection. For example, this may reduce thechance of introducing an infectious organism, if the area to besubjected to a temperature treatment includes an open cut and/orabrasion on a human body part. In one embodiment, an antifungal andantimicrobial agent permeates a polyester taffeta bag.

[0017] Furthermore, the bag 110 may be designed in any shape, such asoval, square, rectangular, etc. For example, the bag 110 may include asubstantially rectangular bag dimensioned, for example, about 6½ inchesby 9 inches, having a thickness of about 1¼ inches, when filled withtherapeutic modules 120 and laid flat.

[0018] The bag 110 may permanently enclose the therapeutic modules 120(i.e., the bag 110 may be a permanently sealed unit)- or, as shown inFIG. 1, the bag 110 may include an access apparatus 125, such as azipper, hook-and-loop tape (e.g. Velcro®), buttons, straps, a twist tie,a slide-lock (e.g. Ziplock®) and/or snaps, operable to permit access tothe interior space 115 of the bag 110. In this manner, the therapeuticmodules 120 may be replaced if necessary.

[0019] In one specific embodiment, the bag 110 is a polyester taffeta.In an alternative embodiment, the polyester taffeta is lined with a highdensity polyethylene thin film or some other water impermeable lining.Unlike stiffer materials, polyester taffeta drapes, as that term is usedin the fashion industry, meaning that the material easily conforms tothe human form under its weight.

[0020] The interior space 115 of the bag 110 between the therapeuticmodules 120 may remain devoid of any material, or may include, forexample, a filling medium 130, as shown in FIG. 1. The filling medium130 may include, for example, a gas, such as air or dessicated air, agelatinous material, a material resistant to expansion when heated (e.g.above 20° C.), a material resistant to freezing when cooled (e.g. below0° C.) or a chemical substance that generates heat or cold by a chemicalreaction or a phase change, for example, without the need for anexternal cooling or heating source, such as a freezer or heater.

[0021] It should be noted that the interior space 115 of the bag 110between the temperature modules 120 may be completely filled with thefilling medium 130 or, alternatively, may only be partially filled withthe filling medium 130. In this manner, the bag 110 may permit thefilling medium 130 to expand within the bag 110 while freezing orheating, without rupturing the bag 110. Alternatively, each shell 205,as shown in FIG. 2, may enclose less than its full volume of atherapeutic medium 210, allowing for expansion of the therapeutic medium210.

[0022]FIG. 2 shows a cut-away view having greater detail of oneembodiment of the therapeutic modules 120. The therapeutic module 120may include a shell 205 and a therapeutic medium 210 situated within aninterior space 215 of the shell 205. The shell 205 may be any shape, forexample, substantially spherical, oval, cubic, irregular, etc. In analternative embodiment, the therapeutic module may be a solidtherapeutic medium. In this alternative, the therapeutic medium 210 is amaterial that has a large heat capacity or undergoes a chemical reactionor solid-solid phase change, for example.

[0023] The therapeutic modules 120 may be dimensioned, for example, tobe approximately equal in volume or to be two or more different volumesto more densely fill the bag. In one preferred embodiment, each module120 has a volume less than 0.4 cubic inches. Thus, the therapeutic pack100 conforms to contours of the area to be subjected to a therapeutictreatment, more effectively promoting uniform application of heating orcooling, for example, as well as reducing the likelihood that thetherapeutic pack 100 will slip off the area to be subjected to thetherapeutic treatment. Further, since the individual therapeutic modules120 may be small relative to the bag 110 and move substantially freelyto one another, at least some of the therapeutic modules 120 may come torest in an area of the therapeutic pack 100 adjacent to at least aportion of the area to be subjected to the temperature treatment. Inthis manner, more of the therapeutic modules 120 may individuallycontact the portion of a body needing treatment, thereby promoting amore effective treatment.

[0024] It should be noted that, although FIGS. 1-3 show the therapeuticmodules 120 having approximately equal sizes, the therapeutic modules120 may be of varying sizes and/or shapes, permitting the therapeuticpack 100 to better conform to the contours of the area to be subjectedto the temperature treatment and/or better promote the therapeuticeffect of the therapeutic pack 100. Furthermore, a volume less than 0.4cubic inches and/or a diameter of spherical modules less than about 0.5inches is preferred, because this allows direct contact of the moduleswith the area to be treated.

[0025] The module shell 205 may be of any material operable to containthe therapeutic medium 210, for example, a rigid plastic, a flexibleplastic, a sponge-like material, a composite material, an elastomericmaterial, a non-organic material, an organic material, or a syntheticmaterial may be used. A shell of polyethylene or polypropylene ispreferred for encapsulating phase change materials. Polypropylene ispreferred for phase change materials having a phase transition ofgreater than 20° C.

[0026] The therapeutic medium 210 may include any material operable toprovide a therapeutic treatment to the body such as heat or coldtherapy. For example, the therapeutic medium 210 may include a liquid, asolid, and/or a gelatinous material. For example, the therapeutic medium210 may be a phase change material, such as water, which providestherapeutic cooling to an area of the body during melting from itsfrozen state to its liquid state. The therapeutic pack 100 may providerepeated therapeutic treatment by refreezing the liquid water, forexample, in a freezer compartment. Water is a convenient phase changematerial, because it undergoes a phase change at 0° C., a temperatureeasily achieved in an ordinary freezer compartment.

[0027] Also, water has a large heat of fusion, which provides prolongedcooling of the area of the body undergoing treatment, and water isnon-toxic. Thus, water is safe and effective. Other phase changematerials are known that are also safe and effective. For example, PCMare available having a range of phase transition temperatures from −31°C. to 90° C., such as the materials offered by TEAP Energy and otherfirms.

[0028] In addition to or in lieu of a liquid, the temperature medium 210may include, for example, a chemical cooling or heating agent operableto provide the cooling or heating temperature via a chemical reaction,without the need for being externally cooled or heated.

[0029] It should be noted that the interior space 215 of the shell 205may be completely filled with the temperature medium 210 or,alternatively, only be partially filled with the temperature medium 210.Partially filling the shell 205 with the temperature medium 210 maypermit the temperature medium 210, for example, liquid water, to expandwithin the module container 205 while freezing or heating, withoutrupturing the shell 205.

[0030] It should also be noted that, although FIG. 2 shows the shell 205filled with the temperature medium 210, the interior space 215 of themodule container 205 may alternatively be filled with air or be devoidof any temperature medium 210 whatsoever. Alternatively, the temperature210 may be a solid that has the same composition as the shell, such as amaterial with a high heat capacity, creating a solid therapeutic module120.

[0031] Referring now to FIG. 3, there is seen a diagram showing theapplication of an exemplary therapeutic pack 100 according to thepresent invention. When applied to an area to be subjected to a cold orheat treatment 305, for example, an injured portion of the human body(e.g., a human knee), the therapeutic modules 120 of the therapeuticpack 100 move substantially freely relative to one another, even if thetherapeutic pack 100 is applied immediately after being removed from acooling source, such as a freezer. In this manner, the therapeuticmodules 120 conform to the area to be subjected to a temperaturetreatment 305, without the need for a subdividing deforming force andwithout the need, for example, to wait for the therapeutic pack 100 toat least partially thaw.

[0032] Further, it is believed that the ability of the therapeutic pack100 to conform to the area treated 305, helps the therapeutic pack 100to stay on any area to be treated, for example, the injured portion ofthe human body. In addition, a bag 110 of a material that drapes underthe weight of the therapeutic pack 100 itself allows the therapeuticmedium to come to rest adjacent to the entire surface to be treated,including reentrant curvature on the surface, depending on the size andshape of each of the plurality of therapeutic modules 120.

What is claimed is:
 1. A therapeutic pack for providing therapeuticheating or cooling to an area of a body, comprising: a conforming bag;and a plurality of therapeutic modules enclosed within the bag, whereinthe therapeutic modules move freely within the bag and the bag conformsto the shape of the area of the body under the weight of the therapeuticpack itself.
 2. The therapeutic pack according to claim 1, wherein thebag is made of a nylon taffeta, a polyester taffeta, or a polyesternylon taffeta.
 3. The therapeutic pack according to claim 2, wherein athickness of the bag is less than four thousandths of an inch.
 4. Thetherapeutic pack according to claim 1, wherein the interior space of thebag includes a filling medium that partially fills the bag by occupyingspace between the plurality of therapeutic modules.
 5. The therapeuticpack according to claim 4, wherein the filling medium includes at leastone of a gas, gelatinous material, a material resistant to freezing whencooled, a material resistant to expansion when heated, and a chemicalsubstance that generates heat or cold by a chemical reaction or a phasechange.
 6. The therapeutic pack according to claim 1, wherein theplurality of therapeutic modules include a phase change material.
 7. Thetherapeutic pack according to claim 6, wherein the phase change materialundergoes a phase transition at a temperature less than 20° C.
 8. Thetherapeutic pack according to claim 7, wherein the phase change materialundergoes a phase transition at a temperature greater than 20° C.
 9. Thetherapeutic pack according to claim 8, wherein the plurality oftherapeutic medium are microwavable, whereby the phase change materialis capable of being heated using microwaves to a temperature greaterthan the temperature of the phase transition.
 10. The therapeutic packaccording to claim 1, wherein the plurality of therapeutic modules areless than one-half inch in diameter, wherein a plurality of thetherapeutic modules are capable of directly contacting conformingsurface of the bag that is in contact with the area of the body to betherapeutically heated or cooled.
 11. The therapeutic pack according toclaim 1, wherein the bag includes a resealable opening, whereby accessto the therapeutic modules is provided.
 12. The therapeutic packaccording to claim 9, wherein the resealable opening includes a zipper,buttons, straps, snaps, a twist tie, a slide-lock, or hook-and-looptape.
 13. The therapeutic pack according to claim 1, wherein each of theplurality of therapeutic modules include a module shell.
 14. Thetherapeutic pack according to claim 13, wherein the module shell is atleast partially filled with a therapeutic medium.
 15. The therapeuticpack according to claim 14, wherein the therapeutic medium is a phasechange material.
 16. The therapeutic pack according to claim 13, whereinthe module shell is of a polyethylene or a polypropylene.
 17. Thetherapeutic pack according to claim 13, wherein the module shell is of arigid plastic, a flexible plastic, a sponge-like material, a compositematerial, an elastomeric material, a non-organic material or a syntheticmaterial.
 18. The therapeutic pack according to claim 13, wherein themodule shell is substantially spherical in shape.
 19. The therapeuticpack according to claim 18, wherein the module shell has an outerdiameter of between about {fraction (11/32)} inches and {fraction(13/32)} inches.
 20. The therapeutic pack according to claim 18, whereinthe module shell has an outer diameter less than ½ inches.
 21. Thetherapeutic pack according to claim 1, wherein a portion of theplurality of the therapeutic modules have an outer diameter less than ½inches.
 22. A therapeutic pack for therapeutic treatment of a portion ofa body, comprising: a bag made of a taffeta that drapes; and a pluralityof therapeutic modules contained within the bag, wherein the volume ofthe therapeutic modules is less than 0.4 cubic inches, and thetherapeutic modules comprise an outer shell and a phase change materialenclosed within the outer shell that is capable of repeatedly providinga prolonged period of heating or cooling to the portion of the bodywithout physically replacing the therapeutic modules.
 23. Thetherapeutic pack according to claim 22, wherein the bag comprises ataffeta.
 24. The therapeutic pack according to claim 23, wherein the bagfurther comprises a lining impermeable to water.
 25. The therapeuticpack according to claim 24, wherein the lining is of a high densityplastic film.
 26. The therapeutic pack according to claim 23, whereinthe bag further comprised an antifungal agent or an anti-microbialagent.
 27. The therapeutic pack according to claim 25, wherein the filmis a polyethylene thin film.
 28. The therapeutic pack according to claim22, wherein a thickness of the bag is less than four thousandths of aninch.